Nineteen trans youth participated in a phenomenological study of their resilience strategies for navigating stressors in their lives. The authors identified 5 supports and 6 threats to participants’ resilience. The 5 themes of resilience were: (a) ability to self-define and theorize one’s gender, (b) proactive agency and access to supportive educational systems, (c) connection to a trans-affirming community, (d) reframing of mental health challenges, and (e) navigation of relationships with family and friends. The 6 major threats to participants’ resilience were: (a) experiences of adultism, (b) health care access challenges, (c) emotional and social isolation, (d) employment discrimination, (e) limited access to financial resources, and (f) gender policing.
“I Am My Own Gender”: Resilience Strategies of Trans Youth
By Anneliese A. Singh, Sarah E. Meng, Anthony W. Hansen, 2012